Pianist and Royal Academy of Music jazz graduate, Peter Lee, is crowdsourcing his debut album for five piece band and string quartet through Kickstarter in an all or nothing bid to create ‘The Velvet Rage’.

Inspired by Alan Downs’ book of the same title, the album expresses the highs and lows of Lee’s personal experience as a musician. Downs worked as a psychologist in America, offering counselling to gay men and he has become familiar with their most common personal battles. Towards the end of the book he offers wisdom and guidance towards a goal he names ‘authentic validation’. Lee’s debut is tribute to this sentiment, showcasing compositions Lee has written over the last 10 years, drawing from his educational, professional and personal journey.

Lee commented: “Gay men and women have been granted the opportunity to marry in so much of the western world; we can walk through the streets hand-in-hand and yet it would be naïve to think that personal struggles related to sexuality aren’t still going on. Attacks on the LGBTQ community still happen, but we’ve seen our communities respond with an unprejudiced sense of unity. I’m so grateful that I live in an age where I can be out and proud and express my perspective through the medium of music.”

Cardiff-born and London-based, Lee received his undergraduate degree from Leeds College of Music and his campaign to raise £5,000 has attracted support from across the country with over 55% raised at the halfway mark.

For such a qualified musician, Lee’s story is one of humour and determination. His first gig with his band prompted an official complaint from the examiner-in-chief at the Royal Academy of Music. It was his final recital for his masters in jazz piano, but Lee went in with a band full of pop musicians. The audience whooped and cheered so raucously that a formal email was sent to all students about ‘appropriate’ exam conditions.

While touring with Alice Zawadzki, Lee worked with the Manchester-based “Amika” String Quartet whose stunning playing led him to arrange his music for strings, and invite them to a week-long recording session in the Autumn of 2016. From there, the album progressed into an offering that spans a decade of work with an authentic and highly talented group of musicians.

Lee needs to raise the full £5,000 by midnight on Tuesday 11 April and would welcome support from all corners. Visit www.bit.ly/petelee to join this exciting new project.

1. We love it

BF MD Leah is a musicologist by training and loves music and reviewing. It’s a way to express the joy that music brings.

2. We support live music

The Brits (say, in comparison with the Europeans) are not great at going out and getting involved in culture, whether that be dance, art, theatre or music. So we want you to encourage people to get out there and get involved in the rich culture that’s going on!

3. We support musicians

Sometimes the musicians we review are involved in some of our projects, so we want to support them in their other creative endeavours. It’s just being a good human really.

4. We respect music

By taking the time to write reviews it shows that we respect what people are working hard for and saying ‘this deserves to be written about’.

Tuesday 2nd Feb 2016 – Sam Crockatt Quartet CD Launch @ Pizza Express 19:00 £15
‘Saxophonist/composer Sam Crockatt launches his third album ‘Mells Bells’ on Whirlwind Recordings. The band is made up of four of the most in-demand and creative musicians on the UK scene, including Kit Downes on piano, Oli Hayhurst on double bass, and James Maddren on drums. Their first album ‘Howeird’ won album of the year in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards in 2009′more info here

Thursday 11th Feb 2016 Zoe Rahman Trio @ St James Theatre 20:00 £17.50
‘Known for her powerful technique, wide-ranging imagination and exuberant performance, she has become a highly sought-after musician, working most recently with the likes of Courtney Pine, George Mraz and Jerry Dammers’ Spatial AKA Orchestra. She is joined by her trio featuring drummer Gene Calderazzo and bass player Mark Lewandowski’ more info here

Our good friends the International Rameau Ensemble are holding a Valentine’s concert at the New College Ante-Chapel on Feb 6th. Not sure whether to go or not? Read our review of their last concert here. And then go!

1) Product Knowledge
Smaller companies tend to have fewer employees. Therefore these guys REALLY need to know their stuff in order to do their job well. Smaller companies have a bigger overall picture and more detailed product knowledge.

2) Specialist Options
Whilst the options might be fewer, the quality will be very high and specialised. That’s because smaller companies rely on their products working really well as they represent their brand. They will also tend to know their musicians personally, and will have used and worked with them more often.

3) Value for Money
In other industries, bigger companies are cheaper as they sell in bulk. However, with musicians this isn’t the case. Musician fees aren’t reduced because there are more of them. The fee is the same regardless. So the bigger companies won’t be cheaper, in fact they tend to be more expensive as they have bigger administration fees.

4) Personal Contact
Small companies tend to have a tight team. That means you can really get to know and trust them. Meeting up for a coffee to talk over ideas is quite common and it’s much better to meet someone and trust them before agreeing to a contract.

5) Support Small Businesses
Buying local and supporting small businesses is great for the community and the economy! Learn more about Small Business Saturday here.

House Gigs are becoming more and more popular and last week we went to our first one and saw singer/guitar/songwriter Tommy Ashby. We enjoyed it. Here are 6 reasons to go to a gig in a living room:

1. AffordableTwo sets of live music, a good meal and good company cost £15. There are no overheads apart from paying the musician and a bit of home cooked food. You can’t get that value seeing live music in bigger venues.

2.Accessible
Some people brought their slippers (no joke!). Anyone can go, and the intimate vibe means you get to chat to the artist, put in requests and really get to know the music.

3. Supports Live Music & Artists
We love live music! Support it and check out the Musician Union’s #WorkNotPlay campaign. Live Music Matters.

4. Local Community
No need to trek to a city centre or major venue. Just get the neighbours together and get to know them better over some quality tunes.

5. Intimate
You’re allowed to heckle here. Because as you’re in the living room it’s actually a ‘conversation’. Ask questions, make your appreciation literally heard. It’s intimate and highly enjoyable. The musician is literally performing to YOU.

6.Fun & Different
Should have put this one first. But it’s fun and a very different way to enjoy a night out.

If you’re a student guitarist in North London and free July 27th-29th, GET INVOLVED! Great chance to work with great musicians including our very own Down Street Band! 07715 272 878 / foresoundmusic@gmail.com (More Info below)

Press Release from Foresound Music:

“We are very excited to announce the launch of the very first Annual GIG LAB, launching this JULY 2015 in the heart of Winchmore Hill. I have attached a flyer to this email and would appreciate it if you could circulate it to your network.

Gig Lab is an Annual Workshop for Guitarists of Intermediate level.

Running for the first time in 2015, this 3 day intensive course gives local aspiring Guitarists the chance to learn from an industry professional in a creative atmosphere of the Winchmore Hill Friends Meeting House. Participants will learn how to improvise and carry themselves in a live performance, will get the chance to workshop a well known piece of their choice whilst working on improving their playing skills, and finally, will be given the chance to audition for a LIVE guest spot in Winchmore Hill’s best loved gastro-pub, The Kings Head.

The course will be taught by Phil Short, Professional Guitarist and Teacher, and is hosted by ForeSound School of Music. Phil is well known in the industry, having played on Radio 1 Live Lounge and numerous national tours with artists like Tyler James and ChipMunk. Down Street, a well loved central London function band will join us this year as our guest band; their members acting as audition panel.